RIGA - He was certainly not a visitor one would expect to see in Latvia. But there he was, Islam Karimov, whose government is consistently accused of some of the gravest human rights abuses in the world, standing next to Vaira Vike-Freiberga outside the president's residence and listening as the marching band played the Uzbek and Latvian anthems.
The president of Uzbekistan arrived in Riga on April 7 to promote trade and investment even though economic activity between the two countries is minimal. Over the course of two days Karimov was given red-carpet treatment from one government institution to the next, and his motorcade succeeded in creating minor bottlenecks throughout the Latvian capital.
To many disinterested observers, the extraordinary attention paid to a leader of a country that systematically tortures oppositionists and critics of the government seemed bizarre, if not sanctimonious.
Writing in the leading daily Diena, Askolds Rodins proclaimed, "Karimov is here... In Uzbekistan people are burned if they protest against his government," and the opinion piece went on to detail human rights abuses in Uzbekistan.
Indeed, the Uzbek republic has been plagued by reports of human rights abuses, including one by British specialists who claimed two prisoners were boiled alive. In fact, ever since assuming power of an independent Uzbekistan in 1991, Karimov has been repeatedly condemned by human rights organizations for gross violations, press restrictions and the prohibition of political opposition.
In fact, just one day before his arrival in Riga, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced it would reduce aid to the Central Asian country due to poor progress in human rights and economic reforms, a move that was supported by Human Rights Watch.
At a press conference on April 7, Karimov told journalists that he was surprised by the EBRD's decision and didn't know anything about the reduction in aid. Officially, however, Uzbekistan has derided the decision as "groundless."
At the same time, Karimov has been a key ally in the U.S.-led war against terrorism, allowing the Americans to set up an airbase for operations in neighboring Afghanistan.
Speaking in February in Tashkent, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was quick to highlight the importance of the U.S.-Uzbekistan relationship.
"We have benefited greatly in our efforts in the global wary on terror and in Afghanistan from the wonderful cooperation we've received from the government of Uzbekistan," he said.
Ever since he was received in the White House two years ago, the autocratic Karimov has made visits to Hungary, Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia - all of whom have recently joined NATO - and long-time members Spain and France.
In this sense, the warm Latvian reception - which including the unveiling of a sculpture of medieval Uzbek astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek in a part of Riga- was a continuation of the precedent set by Washington.
"I suspect that he could drop in on any NATO state that he wants," Martha Brill Olcott, a Central Asian specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said.
Brill Olcott stressed that Karimov had been trying to establish links with Europe since 1991, and his gold reserves have made him very welcome in West European countries.
Latvian officials, however, emphasized the importance of trade talks.
"This is part of an EU dialogue," explained Aiva Rozenberga, press secretary for the president - a dialogue with economic benefit including the "transit through Latvia and the revival of the old silk road," she added.
"Given Uzbekistan's economic potential, Latvia regards this country as one of the most important cooperation partners in Central Asia," the Foreign Ministry said on its Web site.
Karimov also stressed the economic aspect of the visit, citing Latvia's ports as a vital artery for landlocked Uzbekistan. According to one report, he was also interested in acquiring wood processing and food production technologies from the Baltic state.
Still, even the idea of trade relations between Uzbekistan, which has a population ten times larger than that of Latvia's, rang hollow. Since Latvia's exports to the Central Asian country peaked at $11 million in 1998, they have declined steadily to just under $5 million in 2003.
Imports, however, have increased significantly, helping the overall trade balance to jump 60 percent last year to some $10 million.
Latvian journalists, unfortunately, were not given a chance to face down the infamous human rights violator. The press conference, held at the president's residency, allowed allotted time for two questions to the Uzbek president - one from an Uzbek correspondent and one from a Latvian paper. Journalists present said they were left with no doubt that the entire process had been orchestrated.
Some independent analysts contacted by The Baltic Times were reluctant to speak about Karimov's visit, while others admitted anonymously that the visit was odd, especially considering Latvian criticism of human rights abuses in Belarus and Russia.
